Did you cement it?

[MiddleClassProblem]

Hi all!

We would like to get some kind of play equipment in the garden for DD (swing, slide, climbing tower etc) but they all seem to say they need cement put in the ground to anchor them. Obviously, we want it to be as safe as possible but I’ve never known anyone to do this and being a child in the 80s/90s, health and safety was not quite up to par.

Did you cement yours? Do you have any other anchoring options?

I only know people that don’t anchor and it’s making me feel a bit anxious and overwhelmed figuring out what to do.

Please help!

Bump

Yes I did but used post cement, which is what you use for wash line posts. If you make the holes slightly deeper you can put a couple of inches of soil on top (after its cured properly, 2 weekish) and let the grass grow over it. Doesnt look so intrusive.

We’re they premade posts? How long were the ones you use?

Sorry I’m useless!

The attachments came with the items and the top half was bolted to the main frame, the bottom half cemented in. There should be instructions to say which parts need it if it says cement in.

We didn’t use cement. Two posts have wooden stakes attached which go a long way into the ground. The other two have those metal anchors which you screw into the soil at an angle.

However, ours only has a button swing and they can’t get up much momentum on that. Anything with a proper swing I think cement is needed due to the rocking back and forth.

DD is 7 and so likely to get some dare devil swinging in sooner rather than latter so I will look into cement if we do get a swing.

Thank you both for replying!

My experience doesn't relate directly to play equipment, but I did have to put in new fence posts last year when a storm ripped them down and was surprised how easy it was. I'm not a good DIYer, so was expecting a complete farce.

Dig a hole a bit deeper than the attachment they give you for anchoring the equipment and about a foot wide.

Buy some post-crete from your local DIY store, it's about £6 a bag.

Put the attachment in the hole and get someone to hold it straight. Pour the bag of post-crete into the hole, it's just a powder.

Pour a bucket of water in the hole. Hold the attachment bit still for 5 minutes until the mix is set enough to hold it itself then you can let it go.

Wait 30 minutes and it's done.

Thanks! I get a bit overwhelmed by things I haven’t don’t before which results in deer in headlights before the well thought out plan takes place.

We used post-crete which is quick setting concrete. It’s sort of in powder form then you add water to it in the hole and it sets very quickly. We did that with swings but with a wooden climbing frame slide thing it was just secured with a wooden stake that came with it

Thank you! We aren’t settled on what we are getting yet but I think a swing is likely and some kind of tower/raised hut

Our climbing frame has swings, slide, monkey bars and 4 very active and daredevil dc. It is fixed down with screw in metal ground anchors. It came with 4, but I had to add 4 more because it was lifting when they swung on the bits that weren't anchored. It's fine now - but tbh I think cement would have been easier. I have heavy clay with many stones throughout and screwing the anchors in was one of the worst jobs I've ever done.

Good to know. Thank you!